Medal game machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a medal game machine that makes it possible, for a medal to move forward with good directionality, thus increasing the playability of an aiming game. The configuration is such that a medal ( 14 ) fired from a shooting device ( 16 ) is used to shoot at a target. The shooting device ( 16 ) comprises a shooting section ( 24 ) that loads the medal ( 14 ) in a vertical orientation and a push-out means ( 30 ) that pushes out and fires the medal ( 14 ) loaded into the shooting section ( 24 ) A pressing roller ( 40 ) that presses against the upper portion of the medal ( 14 ) that is loaded into the shooting section ( 24 ) is provided in the shooting section ( 24 ) so that, when the medal ( 14 ) is being pushed out by the push-out means ( 30 ), it is shot out escaping from the pressing roller ( 40 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a medal game machine and, inparticular, to a medal game machine in which medals are used to shoot attargets.

BACKGROUND OF ART

A known generic type of game machine is a medal game machine in whichmedals are used.

An example of such a medal game machine is one which makes it possibleto play a pusher game in which medals jostle on a game field and medalsfall.

In such a medal game machine, the configuration is such that medals thatare made to move along rails provided on a slope are sent into the gamefield.

However, simply sending in medals by using rails raises problems in thatthere is no directionality to the medals so the game relies on pureluck, nothing happens but medals enter the game field, and the game isnot very interesting, which all detract from the playability of thegame.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a medal game machinethat makes it possible for a medal to move forward with gooddirectionality, thus increasing the playability of an aiming game.

In order to achieve the above objective, a medal game machine inaccordance with the present invention relates to a medal game machinethat uses medals fired from a shooting device to shoot at a target,

(1) wherein the shooting device comprises a shooting section which loadsa medal in a vertical orientation and a shooting means which shoots amedal that has been loaded into the shooting section,

wherein the shooting section is provided with positioning means whichpositions a medal that has been loaded into the shooting section, whenthe medal is being shot by the shooting means, and

wherein the medal is shot past the positioning means.

This aspect of the present invention makes it possible to position amedal by the positioning means, when a medal that has been loaded in avertical orientation into the shooting section is to be shot by theshooting means provided in the shooting device, so that the medal can beshot past that positioning means and can be made to move forward withdirectionality, like a bullet, which makes it possible to aim at targetsand thus make it possible to enjoy aiming at targets within the medalgame and also increase the playability of the game.

The positioning of the medal by the positioning means also comprisescontrol such that the medal loaded into the shooting section is notspurred out passing the shooting section.

In addition, making it possible to aim medals in this manner ensuresthat it becomes possible to enjoy aiming at targets with variousdifferent medal game machines.

(2) Another medal game machine in accordance with the present inventionrelates to a medal game machine that uses medals fired from a shootingdevice to shoot at a target,

wherein the shooting device comprises a shooting section which loads amedal in a vertical orientation and a push-out means which pushes outand shoots a medal that has been loaded into the shooting section,

wherein the shooting section is provided with pressing means whichpresses against an upper portion or a lower portion of a medal that hasbeen loaded into the shooting section, when the medal is being pushedout by the push-out means, and

wherein the medal is shot past the pressing means.

When a medal that has been loaded into the shooting section is beingpushed out by the push-out means provided in the shooting device, thisaspect of the present invention makes it possible to impart asufficiently large rotational force to the medal that is being shot pastthe pressing means by pressing with the pressing means against the upperportion or lower portion of the medal loaded in the shooting section ina state in which it absorbs the pushing force of the push-out means, sothat the medal can be made to move forward with directionality, like abullet, which makes it possible to aim at targets and thus make itpossible to enjoy aiming at targets within the medal game and alsoincrease the playability of the game.

In addition, making it possible to aim medals in this manner ensuresthat it becomes possible to enjoy aiming at targets with variousdifferent medal game machines.

(3) In such a case, the pressing means may be provided at an upper partof the shooting section, and

a sliding-prevention means for preventing the medal from sliding may beprovided at a lower part of the shooting section.

This configuration makes it possible to impart a rotational drive to themedal, by preventing sliding of the lower portion of the medal by thesliding-prevention means provided at a lower part of the shootingsection and by shooting the medal past the pressing means provided at anupper part thereof, thus increasing the straight running characteristicthereof.

(4) Alternatively, the pressing means may be provided at a lower part ofthe shooting section, and

a sliding means for allowing the medal to slide may be provided at anupper part of the shooting section.

This configuration makes it possible impart a rotational drive to themedal, by allowing the upper portion of the medal to slip by the slidingmeans provided at an upper part of the shooting section while shootingthe medal past the pressing means provided at a lower part thereof, thusincreasing the straight running characteristic thereof.

(5) In addition, the pressing means may be a pressing roller that isenergized in a medal-pressing direction by a spring.

This configuration makes it possible to further increase the rotationalforce and straight running characteristic of a medal that has gone overthe pressing roller and been pushed forward by the spring that energizesthe pressing roller.

(6) Further, an attachment position of the spring may be adjustable soas to adjust the pressing force of the pressing roller.

This makes it possible to adjust the speed at which the medal is shotout by adjusting the pressing force of the pressing roller.

(7) In the present invention, the shooting section may be provided witha small-diameter medal ejection means that ejects a small-diametermedal, which is smaller than an-outer diameter of an authorized medal,to an exterior from the shooting section before the small-diameter medalis shot, when a supplied medal is the small-diameter medal.

This configuration makes it possible to reliably avoid the use ofmedals- that are of a smaller diameter than authorized medals, byejecting such small-diameter medals to the exterior by thesmall-diameter medal ejection means provided in the shooting section,thus reliably preventing the deliberate use of small-diameter medals.

(8) In such a case, the small-diameter medal ejection means may includea small-diameter medal ejection hole formed in one side surface of theshooting section and an ejection member provided on another side surfaceat a position corresponding to the small-diameter medal ejection hole,for pushing a side surface of a small-diameter medal towards thesmall-diameter medal ejection hole.

This makes it possible to reliably eject small-diameter medals to theexterior, by pushing small-diameter medals out by the ejection member tothe ejection hole, and also enables a simple structure and a reductionin cost.

(9) Furthermore in such a case, the small-diameter medal ejection meansmay have an aperture height adjustment means which adjusts an apertureheight of the small-diameter medal ejection hole.

This makes it possible to set the size of small-diameter medals that areto be ejected in accordance with the size of authorized medals, in asimple and reliable manner, by adjusting the aperture height of thesmall-diameter medal ejection hole by the aperture height adjustmentmeans.

(10) In the present invention, the shooting device may comprise a medalinsertion section for loading medals into the shooting section, alarge-diameter medal rejection means which rejects a large-diametermedal that is larger than an outer diameter of an authorized medal maybe provided in the medal insertion section, and the large-diameter medalrejection means may adjust a size of a medal to be rejected according toa size of an authorized medal.

This configuration makes it possible to reliably reject anylarge-diameter medal that is larger than an authorized medal, by thelarge-diameter medal rejection means provided in the medal insertionsection, so that deliberate use of large diameter medals can beprevented reliably. Moreover, it makes it possible to correspond withthe size of authorized medals in a reliable manner by adjusting thelarge-diameter medal rejection means. This facilitates the use ofvarious different medals of different sizes in various different storesin which medal game machines are installed.

(11) In accordance with the present invention, the medal game machinemay further comprise:

a reflective plate disposed in an inclined state in front of theshooting device, for reflecting and displaying an image of a display onwhich is shown a target;

a medal running surface disposed below the reflective plate, enablingmedals to pass under the reflective plate;

detection means disposed on the rear side of the reflective plate andabove the medal running surface, and detecting the position throughwhich a medal passes; and

a result determination section which determines whether or not theposition through which the medal passes matches the position of thetarget.

This configuration makes it possible to determine whether or not themedal hits the target by using the result determination means todetermine a state in which the position at which a medal passes is at aposition of a target, by shooting a medal that is aimed at a targetdisplayed on the reflective plate, having the medal pass under thereflective plate while running on the medal running surface, thenensuring that the position at which it passes is detected by thedetection means, thus creating a game that is interesting as a targetgame.

(12) In the present invention, the reflective plate may be a half-mirrorso that a running state of a medal after passing the half-mirror isvisible.

With this configuration, the running state of each medal after it haspassed the half-mirror can be seen, making it possible to impart anrealistic image of a medal striking a target in a virtual space, thusincreasing the playability of the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a medal game machine inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic section through the game machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the shooting device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view as seen from the right side of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the medal game machine inaccordance with this embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a display screen for a first game.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a display screen for a normal game and a displayscreen for a bonus game, during a second game.

FIG. 8 is a complete schematic view of another embodiment of theshooting device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the interior configuration of the mainshooting device unit of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view of the small-diameter medal ejectionmeans.

FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line X1—X1 of FIG. 10.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with referenceto the accompanying figures.

An embodiment of a medal game machine in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 7B.

This medal game machine 10 is provided with a shooting device 16 formedals 14 on a front side of a casing 12, a half-mirror 18 that acts asa reflective plate for displaying targets is provided in front thereof,and a medal running surface 20 is provided under the half-mirror 18,extending from the side of the shooting device 16 to the interior of thehalf-mirror 18, as shown in FIG. 1.

The shooting device 16 is formed to simulate the shape of a hand-gun, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and is provided with a grip 22, a shootingsection 24, a shot running section 26, and a medal loading section 28.

The grip 22 has a shape that is easy for a hand to grasp and is designedin such a manner that aim can be obtained in a state in which that grip22 is grasped.

The shooting section 24 is configured in such a manner that a medal 14is loaded therein in a vertical orientation, and a push-out means 30 isprovided at the rear side of this shooting section 24 to push out themedal 14 that is loaded into the shooting section 24 and fire it.

This push-out means 30 is in a state such that a push-out section 32 anda trigger 34 are formed integrally therewith, it is installed in such amanner that it can rotate about the center of a pin 36 and it is also ina state in which it is energized rearward by a spring 38 on the push-outsection 32 side.

The configuration is such that the energizing force of the spring 38 isresisted by pulling the trigger 34 in the direction of the arrow A sothat the push-out section 32 moves in the direction B in the figure topush out the medal 14;.

A pressing roller 40 is provided as a pressing means in an upper part ofthe shooting section 24, and a slip-proof rubber piece 42 is provided asa sliding-prevention means in a lower part thereof, to prevent the medal14 sliding.

The pressing roller 40 is attached so as to be able to rotate up anddown about a pin 44 and is in a state such that it is energized downwardby a spring 46.

The slip-proof rubber piece 42 is arranged in a position correspondingto the pressing roller 40 so that when the upper portion of the medal 14is in contact with the pressing roller 40, the slip-proof rubber piece42 is in contact with the lower portion of the medal 14, making thelower portion of the medal unable to slide.

If the medal 14 is pushed out by the push-out means 30 as far as theposition of the pressing roller 40, the upper portion of the medal 14 ispressed by the pressing roller 40 in a state in which it absorbs thepressing force of the push-out means 30. If the medal 14 is pushed outfurther by the push-out means 30, it resists the energizing force of thespring 46, the pressing roller 40 is pushed upwards about the center ofthe pin 44, and the medal 14 escapes from the pressing roller 40 and isshot out vigorously.

Since the lower portion of the medal 14 is placed in contact with theslip-proof rubber piece 42 so that it cannot slide in this case, themedal 14 is driven in rotation so that it can be shot in a straightline.

When the medal 14 escapes from the pressing roller 40, the energizingforce of the spring 46 acts so as to press against the rear side of themedal 14, so that an even stronger rotational force is imparted to themedal 14.

This pressing roller 40 could also be provided on the lower side of theshooting section 24, although this is not shown in the figures.

In such a case, the configuration could be such that a sliding meansthat allows the upper portion of the medal 14 to slide could be providedon the upper side of the shooting section 24 corresponding to thepressing roller 40.

Since the lower portion of the medal 14 is pressed by the pressingroller 40 and the upper portion is allowed to slide when the medal 14 ispushed out by the push-out means 30, this configuration would make itpossible to drive the medal 14 forward in rotation in the direction C.

It is also possible to vary the speed at which the medal is shot,depending on the game, by varying the attachment positions of each of aplurality of attachment pins 48, such as three such attachment pins, tovary the pressing force applied by the pressing roller 40 to the medal14.

The shot running section 26 is set to a predetermined length to enablethe medal 14 that has been shot from the shooting section 24 to runforward.

The medal mounting section 28 is provided protruding from the side ofthe shooting section 24, making it possible to load a plurality ofmedals 14.

The loaded medals 14 are pressed towards the shooting section 24 by aspring 51 so that the medals 14 are loaded automatically into theshooting section 24.

The half-mirror 18 is configured in such a manner that it reflects ascreen of a display 50 that is disposed above the half-mirror 18 withthe screen thereof pointing downward.

The screen of this display 50 shows targets, with the configurationbeing such that these targets are reflected in the half-mirror 18towards a player 52.

A light 53 is disposed on the rear side of the half-mirror 18 in such amanner that each medal 15 that has passed a lower-edge position of thehalf-mirror 18 becomes visible through the half-mirror 18, producing~aneffect as if the medal 14 has hit one of the targets displayed on thehalf-mirror 18.

The medal running surface 20 is provided in a state in which it slopesgently downward from the shooting device 16 side to the half-mirror 18side, and a gap 54 that enables the medal 14 to pass therethrough isprovided between the lower edge of the half-mirror 18 and the medalrunning surface 20.

A detection means 56 is provided on the medal running surface 20 behindthe half-mirror 18, to detect the position at which the medal 14 passesthe final edge position thereof.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the detection means 56 is aplurality of microswitches with the configuration being such that theposition at which the medal 14 passes is detected when the medal 14touches it.

After passing, the medal 14 is accommodated in a hopper 60 via a slope58, is returned to a return box 62 from the hopper 60, then istransferred from there to the location of the player 52.

Note that the configuration is such that surplus medals 14 are collectedin a reception box 64 within the hopper 60.

A functional block diagram of the medal game machine 10 in accordancewith this embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5.

This medal game machine 10 comprises the detection means 56, a controlsection 66, and the display 50.

The detection means 56 is designed to detect the position at which eachmedal 14 shot from the shooting device 16 passes, when the medal 14 hasrun along the medal running surface 20.

The control section 66 is designed to provide control over the entiremedal game machine 10.

The control section 66 comprises a result determination section 68 and aresult calculation section 70, which determine the result of the game.

The configuration is such that a game screen having targets is displayedon the display 50, the result determination section 68 determineswhether the position of the medal 14 that has been aimed at the target14 reflected in the half-mirror 18, as detected by the detection means56, matches the position of the target, and an image of the targetbursting and also a game result that has been calculated by the resultcalculation section 70 is displayed on the display 50.

Sound effects are output from a suitable speaker or the like, dependingon the game situation.

The display 50 is designed to display game screens as specified by thecontrol section 66.

Examples of these game screens are shown in FIGS. 6, 7A, and 7B.

FIG. 6 shows a screen for a first game, where this first game is atarget game involving a balloon 72 that floats in mid-air and minnowcharacters 74 that act to protect the balloon 72.

It is possible to win a large number of medals if the balloon 72 isburst, and the balloon 72 gradually sinks naturally while floating atthe center of the screen.

There are five minnow characters 74 which act to protect the balloon 72,and which dance around blowing wind in such a manner as to prevent theballoon 72 from sinking.

A pointer-style roulette wheel is attached to the chest of each minnowcharacter 74, with the configuration being such that a number of medalscorresponding to that pointer is paid out at the instant the balloonbursts.

To acquire the balloon 72, the player first aims at the minnowcharacters 74 with the medals 14 that are blowing wind, to land theballoon 72, then steps on means to burst the landed balloon 72 withmedals 14.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show screens from a second game, where this second gamecomprises a normal game shown in FIG. 7A and a bonus game shown in FIG.7B.

In the normal game, “holes in space” appear at three random positions onthe screen and characters 76 appear from these holes.

The characters 76 are shaped like playing cards and a line of five ofthese characters 76 appears in a lateral row from each hole at a time.

The characters 76 are smaller than the minnow characters 74 of the firstgame, so that they are more difficult to hit with the medals 14.

A number from 0 to 7 or a “star” is written on each of the characters76.

There is a rule- governing the combination of five characters thatappears from each hole: one always has a “star”, two have zero, and thenumbers on the remaining two add up to eight, but their arrangement israndom.

As soon as the characters 76 appear from a hole in space, the playeridentifies them and attacks with medals 14.

If a medal 14 hits a character 76, the character 76 shatters intofragments and the player receives the number of medals 14 that waswritten thereon.

If a “star” is hit, a star mark 78 is added to the top of the screen.

Note that a bonus game starts when the number of these star marks 78reaches ten.

With the bonus game, a large number of characters on which is written“?” fall from above when the number of the star marks 78 reaches ten.

At the same time that these characters 76 land, a ten-second timerstarts counting down, during which time the player tries to burst asmany of the characters 76 as possible.

Note that the characters freeze in place.

If a character 76 is hit by a medal 14, the character 76 shatters intofragments and a number from 5 to 10 or a “star” is displayed.

The configuration is such that if a number appears, the player gets thatnumber of medals 14, and if a “star” appears, the “star” is stuck to thetop of the screen and is carried forward after the bonus game ends. Iften “stars” accumulate during the bonus game, the player can get a largenumber of medals.

Simultaneously with the end of the time limit, the characters 76disappear upwards and the bonus game ends.

Another embodiment of the shooting device is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11.

In this embodiment of the present invention, a shooting device 100 isshaped to simulate a hand-gun as in the previous embodiment, and isconfigured of a main unit 102 of the shooting device and a case 104, asshown in FIG. 8.

The main unit 102 of the shooting device is provided with a medalinsertion section 106, a shooting section 108, and a shot runningsection 110, as shown in FIG. 9.

Since the medal insertion section 106 is intended for loading medals 112into the shooting section 108, it is possible to insert medals 112 intoa medal insertion aperture 114.

An insertion guide member 118 and an insertion aperture adjustmentmember 120, which function as large-diameter medal rejection means forrejecting the insertion of large-diameter medals 116 that are largerthan authorized medals 112, are provided in the medal insertion section106.

An aperture width W of the medal insertion aperture 114 is set to thesize of the authorized medals 112 by the insertion guide member 118 andthe insertion aperture adjustment member 120, so that the large-diametermedals 116 can not be placed into the medal insertion aperture 114.

It is therefore possible to reliably prevent the player fromdeliberately inserting large-diameter medals 116.

The medal insertion aperture 114 can be adjusted to the size of theauthorized medals 112 by attaching the insertion aperture adjustmentmember 120 via a slot 121 that extends horizontally, to adjust themounting position of the insertion aperture adjustment member 120horizontally.

It is therefore possible to allow for the use of authorized medals ofdifferent sizes in different stores, in a simple manner.

The shooting section 108 is designed so that the medals 112 are loadedin a vertical orientation, as in the previous embodiment, and is alsoprovided with a small-diameter medal ejection means 124 so that, if themedals supplied thereto are small-diameter medals 122 of a diameter lessthan that of the authorized medals 112, those small-diameter medals 122can be ejected to the exterior from the shooting section 108 beforefiring.

This small-diameter medal ejection means 124 comprises a small-diametermedal ejection hole 128 formed on one side surface 126 of the shootingsection 108 and an ejection spring 132 that acts as an ejection memberprovided on another side surface 130 at a position corresponding to asmall-diameter .medal 122, as shown in FIG. 11.

The ejection spring 132 is in a state such that it projects towards theone side surface 126 from a window 134 formed to extend laterally. inthe other side surface 130, so as to push the side of a medal 112 or 122that has been supplied into the shooting section 108 in the direction ofthe small-diameter medal ejection hole 128.

The aperture height h of the small-diameter medal ejection hole 128 isset to a height such that the authorized medals 112 do not pass through,by an aperture height adjustment member 136 that acts as aperture heightadjustment means.

If a small-diameter medal 122 should be supplied into the shootingsection 108, therefore, the small-diameter medal 122 is passed throughthe small-diameter medal ejection hole 128 by pushing the side surfacethereof towards the small -diameter medal ejection hole 128, and thus isejected to the exterior from the small-diameter medal ejection hole 128.

In this manner, if a small-diameter medal 122 is inserted, the use ofthat small-diameter medal 122 can be prevented, reliably by ejecting thesmall-diameter medal 122 to the exterior.

The aperture height of the small-diameter medal ejection hole 128 can beadjusted to the size of the authorized medals 112 by attaching theaperture height adjustment member 136 via slots 138 arranged in thevertical direction and adjusting the attachment position of the apertureheight adjustment member 136 vertically.

It is therefore possible to allow for the use of authorized medals ofdifferent sizes in different stores, in a simple manner.

A push-out means 140 is provided on the rear side of the shootingsection 108 to push out and shoot medals 112 that have been loaded intothe shooting section 108, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

This push-out means 140 is in a state such that a push-out section 142and a trigger 144 are formed integrally therewith, it is installed insuch a manner that it can rotate about the center of a pin 146 and it isalso in a state in which it is energized rearward by a spring 147 on thetrigger 144 side.

The configuration is such that the energizing force of the spring 147 isresisted by pulling the trigger 144 in the direction of the arrow A sothat the push-out section 142 moves in the direction B in the figure topush out the medal 122.

A pressing roller 148 is provided as a pressing means in an upper partof the shooting section 108, and a slip-proof rubber piece 160 isprovided as a sliding-prevention means in a lower part thereof, toprevent the medal 112 sliding.

The pressing roller 148 is attached so as to be able to rotate up anddown about a pin 150 and is in a state such that it is energizeddownward by a spring 152.

If the medal 112 is pushed out by the push-out means 140 as far as theposition of the pressing roller 148, the upper portion of the medal 112is pressed by the pressing roller 148 in a state in which it absorbs thepressing force of the push-out means 140. If the medal 112 is pushed outfurther by the push-out means 140, it resists the energizing force ofthe spring 152, the pressing roller 148 is pushed upwards about thecenter of the pin 150, and the medal 112 escapes from the pressingroller 148 and is shot out vigorously.

To ensure that the fired medal 112 does not strike the edge of theaperture of the small-diameter medal ejection hole 128 formed in theother side surface 130 in this case, a lateral V-shaped notch 154 isformed in that edge of the aperture.

The shot running section 110 is set to a predetermined length to enablethe medal 14 that has been shot from the shooting section 24 to runforward.

A grip 156 is formed integrally with the case 104 in such a manner as tocover parts of the shooting section 108 and the shot running section 110from the medal insertion aperture 114 side.

A storage section 158 for collecting small-diameter medals 122 that havebeen ejected from the small-diameter medal ejection means 124 is formedon the lower side of the case 104 corresponding to the shooting section108.

This makes it possible to prevent the re-use of small-diameter medals122 that have been ejected by the small-diameter medal ejection means124, by collecting the ejected small-diameter medals 122 in the storagesection 158.

All other details of the configuration and operation are similar tothose of the previous embodiment, so further description thereof isomitted.

The present invention is not limited to the above described embodimentsand thus it can be modified in various different ways within the scopeof the invention laid out herein.

For instance, the above embodiments illustrated the use of a pressingroller that can rotate up and down as the pressing means, but thepresent invention is not limited to that example and thus it is equallypossible to provide the fixing of an elastic member.

In addition, the screen of the display was reflected in a half-mirror,but it is also possible to use a semi-transparent reflective plate.

Furthermore, the details of the games are not limited to the abovedescribed first and second games, and thus the present invention can beapplied to various different games.

A slip-proof rubber piece was used as the sliding-prevention means, butvarious different components could be used therefor, such as finegrooves, provided they have sliding-prevention capabilities.

In addition, the above described embodiments deal with a configurationin which a medal was pushed out by a push-out means while in a state inwhich it was being pressed by a pressing means. However, the presentinvention is not limited to that example and thus various otherconfigurations could be used therefor, such as a shooting means in whicha medal is positioned to a certain degree within the shooting section byan ejection spring that functions as a positioning means and fired outfrom behind as in a case of a pachinko machine, by way of example.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medal game machine that uses medals fired froma shooting device to shoot at a target, comprising: a reflective platedisposed in an inclined state in front of the shooting device, forreflecting and displaying an image of a display on which is shown atarget; a medal running surface disposed below the reflective plate,enabling medals to pass under the reflective plate; detection meansdisposed on the rear side of the reflective plate and above the medalrunning surface, and detecting the position through which a medalpasses; and a result determination section which determines whether ornot the position through which the medal passes matches the position ofthe target, wherein the shooting device comprises a shooting sectionwhich loads a medal in a vertical orientation and a shooting means whichshoots a medal that has been loaded into the shooting section, whereinthe shooting section is provided with positioning means which positionsa medal that has been loaded into the shooting section, when the medalis being shot by the shooting means, and wherein the medal is shot pastthe positioning means.
 2. The medal game machine as defined in claim 1,wherein the shooting section is provided with a mechanism to prevent useof unauthorized small-diameter medals, wherein the shooting sectionejects a small-diameter medal, which is smaller than an outer diameterof an authorized medal, to an exterior from the shooting section.
 3. Themedal game machine as defined in claim 2, wherein the small-diametermedal ejection means includes a small-diameter medal ejection holeformed in one side surface of the shooting section and an ejectionmember provided on another side surface at a position corresponding tothe small-diameter medal ejection hole, for pushing a side surface of asmall-diameter medal towards the small-diameter medal ejection hole. 4.The medal game machine as defined in claim 3, wherein the small-diametermedal ejection means has an aperture height adjustment means whichadjusts an aperture height of the small-diameter medal ejection hole. 5.The medal game machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the shootingdevice comprises a medal insertion section for loading medals into theshooting section, a large-diameter medal rejection means which rejects alarge-diameter medal that is larger than an outer diameter of anauthorized medal is provided in the medal insertion section, and thelarge-diameter medal rejection means adjusts a size of a medal to berejected according to a size of an authorized medal.
 6. The medal gamemachine as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective plate is ahalf-mirror so that a running state of a medal after passing thehalf-mirror is visible.
 7. A medal game machine that uses medals firedfrom a shooting device to shoot at a target, wherein the shooting devicecomprises a shooting section which loads a vertically oriented medal anda push-out means which pushes out and shoots a medal that has beenloaded into the shooting section, wherein the shooting section isprovided with pressing means which presses against an upper portion or alower portion of a medal that has been loaded into the shooting section,in order to cause rotation of the medal when the medal is being pushedout by the push-out means, and wherein the medal is shot past thepressing means.
 8. A medal game machine that uses medals fired from ashooting device to shoot at a target, wherein the shooting devicecomprises a shooting section which loads a medal in a verticalorientation and a push-out means which pushes out and shoots a medalthat has been loaded into the shooting section, wherein the shootingsection is provided with pressing means which presses against an upperportion or a lower portion of a medal that has been loaded into theshooting section, when the medal is being pushed out by the push-outmeans, wherein the medal is shot past the pressing means, wherein thepressing means is provided at a lower part of the shooting section,wherein a sliding means for allowing the medal to slide is provided atan upper part of the shooting section.
 9. The medal game machine asdefined in claim 7, wherein the shooting section is provided with amechanism to prevent use of unauthorized small-diameter medals, whereinthe shooting section ejects a small-diameter medal, which is smallerthan an outer diameter of an authorized medal, to an exterior from theshooting section.
 10. The medal game machine as defined in claim 9,wherein the small-diameter medal ejection means includes asmall-diameter medal ejection hole formed in one side surface of theshooting section and an ejection member provided on another side surfaceat a position corresponding to the small-diameter medal ejection hole,for pushing a side surface of a small-diameter medal towards thesmall-diameter medal, ejection hole.
 11. The medal game machine asdefined in claim 10, wherein the small-diameter medal ejection means hasan aperture height adjustment means which adjusts an aperture height ofthe small-diameter medal ejection hole.
 12. The medal game machine asdefined in claim 7, wherein the shooting device comprises a medalinsertion section for loading medals into the shooting section, alarge-diameter medal rejection means which rejects a large-diametermedal that is larger than an outer diameter of an authorized medal isprovided in the medal insertion section, and the large-diameter medalrejection means adjusts a size of a medal to be rejected according to asize of an authorized medal.
 13. The medal game machine as defined inclaim 8, wherein the pressing means is a pressing roller that isenergized in a medal-pressing direction by a spring.
 14. A medal gamemachine that uses medals fired from a shooting device to shoot at atarget, wherein the shooting device comprises a shooting section whichloads a medal in a vertical orientation and a push-out means whichpushes out and shoots a medal that has been loaded into the shootingsection, wherein the shooting section is provided with pressing meanswhich presses against an upper portion or a lower portion of a medalthat has been loaded into the shooting section, when the medal is beingpushed out by the push-out means, wherein the medal is shot past thepressing means, wherein the pressing means is provided at an upper partof the shooting section, and wherein a sliding-prevention means forpreventing the medal from sliding is provided at a lower part of theshooting section.
 15. The medal game machine as defined in claim 14,wherein the pressing means is a pressing roller that is energized in amedal-pressing direction by a spring.
 16. A medal game machine that usesmedals fired from a shooting device to shoot at a target, wherein theshooting device comprises a shooting section which loads a medal in avertical orientation and a push-out means which pushes out and shoots amedal that has been loaded into the shooting section, wherein theshooting section is provided with pressing means which presses againstan upper portion or a lower portion of a medal that has been loaded intothe shooting section, when the medal is being pushed out by the push-outmeans, wherein the medal is shot past the pressing means, and whereinthe pressing means is a pressing roller that is energized in amedal-pressing direction by a spring.
 17. The medal game machine asdefined in claim 16, wherein an attachment position of the spring isadjustable so as to adjust the pressing force of a the pressing roller.18. A medal game machine that uses medals fired from a shooting deviceto shoot at a target, comprising: a reflective plate disposed in aninclined state in front of the shooting device, for reflecting anddisplaying an image of a display on which is shown a target; a medalrunning surface disposed below the reflective plate, enabling medals topass under the reflective plate; detection means disposed on the rearside of the reflective plate and above the medal running surface, anddetecting the position through which a medal passes; and a resultdetermination section which determines whether or not the positionthrough which the medal passes matches the position of the target,wherein the shooting device comprises a shooting section which loads amedal in a vertical orientation and a push-out means which pushes outand shoots a medal that has been loaded into the shooting section,wherein the shooting section is provided with pressing means whichpresses against an upper portion or a lower portion of a medal that hasbeen loaded into the shooting section, when the medal is being pushedout by the push-out means, and wherein the medal is shot past thepressing means.
 19. The medal game machine as defined in claim 18,wherein the reflective plate is a half-mirror so that a running state ofa medal after passing the half-mirror is visible.